Retractable brush



Dec. 23, 195s P. KAYE ETAL 2,865,039

RETRACTABLE BRUSH Filed .June 7, 1957 nlmmnnnnnunnm MMM y Z270 rms: g5

United States Patent O RETRACTABLE BRUSH Philip Kaye, Norridge, and Edward E. Tate, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Lester R. Peilet, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 7, 1957, Serial No. 664,401

11 Claims. (Cl. 1`5184) This invention relates to hair brushes and various other kinds of brushes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hair brush or the like in which the bristles are fully retractable into the body of the brush.

A further object is to provide a new and improved retractable brush which is so arranged that 'it is very easy and convenient to extend and retract the bristles.

Another object is to provide a new and improved retractable brush which is extremely compact and thus is easy to carry in a pocket, purse, handbag or the like.

A further object is to provide a retractable brush which is comparable in size and appearance, when retracted, to a cosmetic compact.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved retractable brush which is extremely useful and attractive in appearance, yet is easy to manufacture and low in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a retractable brush to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are elevational views of the brush, with the bristles extended and retracted, respectively.

Figs. 4 and 5 are central elevational sectional views, with the bristles extended and retracted.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the retractable brush shown in Figs. 1-5.

As already indicated, the drawings illustrate a brush.10 having bristles 12 which are adapted to be extended and retracted so that the brush may be conveniently carried in a pocket, purse or the like, yet will be quickly available for convenient use. The brush 10 is especially well adapted `for use as a hair brush, but it may be employed as a clothes brush, or for any other use, as desired.

It will be seen that the bristles 12 are retractable into a body or housing 14. As illustrated, the housing 14'is generally cylindrical and drum shaped. From Figs. 4-6 it will be apparent that the housing 14 comprises upper and lower opposed hollow half Vshells 16 and 18 which are generally cup shaped. Thus, the upper half shell 16 has a at, circular, (generally disc shaped top wall 20, together with a depending cylindrical side wall 22. Similarly, the lower half shell 18 has a flat circular bottom wall 24 with a cylindrical side wall 26 extending upwardly therefrom. The upper and lower side walls 22 and 26 are positioned in edge to edge sliding engagement.

Means are provided to hold the upper andlower half shells 16 and 18 together, while providing for relative rotation thereof through a limited range. In this case, the

upper half shell 16 has a plurality of legs 28 which extend downwardly into the lower half shell 18 just inside the side wall 26. Each of the legs 28 is formedl with an `outwardly facing` groove 30 which is slidably engaged with a corresponding horizontal ridge 32 `on the inside of the `legs 28 and three of the ridges or ribs 32. The engagement between the grooves 30 and the ridges 32 prevents separation of the half shells 16 and 18, while providing for relative rotation therebetween. The upper and lower half shells 16 and 18 may be made of resilient materials so that the half shells may be deformed slightly to provide for assembly and disassembly of the casing 14. In a'ssembling the casing, the half shells 16 and 18 aremerely pushed together, whereupon the lower ends of the legs 28 will snap over the ridges 32 until the grooves `30 engage with the ridges. It is advantageous to mold the upper and lower half shells 16 and 18 from resinous plastics or the like. Thus, the upper half shell 16 and the legs 28 may be molded in one piece. Likewise, the lower 18 may be molded in one piece.

It will be apparent from Figs. 4-6 that the bristles 12 are mounted on the carrier plate 34 which is movable within the housing 14. It is highly convenient and advantageous to mold the individual bristles 12 and the lcarrier plate 34 in one piece from suitable plastics, such as polyethylene, nylon or the like.

It will be seen that the bristles 12 are mounted on the upper side of the carrier plate 34 and are arranged to extend through a multitude of individual openings 36 in the top wall 20. In this case, each bristle 12 has an individual opening 36. The engagement between the bristles 12 and the openings 36 connects the plate 34 to the upper half shell 16 for rotation therewith. The bristles 12 are movable through the openings36 as the plate 34 is moved upwardly and downwardly to advance and retract the bristles.

Means are provided to advance and retract the bristle plate 34 in response to rotation of the lower housing member 18 with respect to the upper housing member 16. In this case, the lower housing member or half shell 18 is formed with a plurality of cams 40 which are engaged by a plurality of cam follower elements 42 0n the bristle plate 34. The illustrated cams 40 take the form of rather steeply inclined grooves formed in arcuate members 44 on the lower half shell 18. It will be seen that the members 44 are cylindrically curved and are formed on the lower half shell 18 just inside the side wall 26. The members 44 and the lower half shell 18 may be molded in one piece. Each `groove 4'0 extends through the corresponding member 44 Vand is disposed opposite the edge of the bristle `plate 34. The cam'followers 42 take the form of pins or ears projecting radially fro-rn the edge of the bristle plate 34. Eachear or pi-n 42 is received in the corresponding cam groove 40. In this case, there are three cam grooves 40 Aand three ears 42. The members 44 are interspersed between the ridges 32 on the inside of the lower side wall 26.

In'order to lock the bristle plate 34 with the bristles 12 extended, each cam groove 40 is formed with a subs'tantially horizontal or level upper portion 46. When the ears 42 are positioned in the horizontal portions 46 of the groovesV 40, downward pressure may bel exerted on the bristles without causing the bristles to retract into the housing. Thus, the brush may be used vigorously, as in the brushing of hair,l without causing the bristles to retract.v Y

In order to prevent accidental extension 'of the bristles 12 from their retracted position, each cam groove 40 isA formed with a detent projection 48 which extends into the groove to a slight extent adjacent the lower end of' the groove. The projections 48 detain the ears 42,1'n the lower ends of thecam grooves 4t), when the bristles 12 are fully retracted. The detaining action 'of the projections 48 issuiii'cient to prevent accidental extension of the bristles, while affording only a small, unobjection able resistance to normal extension vand retraction of the bristles.

3 The ears 42 will readily snap past the projections 48 during normal extension and retraction of the bristles.

It will be apparent from Fig. 6 thatthe brush 10 may be `Ymanufactured in three pieces, comprising the upper casing member 16, the lower member 18, and the bristle plate 34 with its integral bristles 12. The brush may readily be assembled by inserting the bristles 12 through the openings 36 in the upper half shell 16. The ears 42 are then lined yup with the horizontal upper portions 46 of the cam grooves 40, and the upper and lower half shells 16 and 18 are pushed together so that the grooves 30 in the legs 28 will` snap over the ridges 32. The assembly may be facilitated by forming the bristle openings 36 with downwardly flaring lower portions 50. Notches A52 may be formed in the edge ofthe bristle plate 34 to provide adequate clearance for the legs 28.

The bristles 12 are extended and retracted by rotating the upper and lower casing members 16 and 18 with respect to each other through an angle of about 60. If the upper half shell 16 is rotated clockwise with respect to the lower half shell 18, the ears 42 on the bristle plate 34 will ride up the cam grooves 40 and along the horizontal locking portions 46 of the cam grooves. The brush may then be used with all reasonable vigor without causing the bristles to retract.

Rotating the upper half shell 16 in a counterclockwise direction, with respect to the lower half shell 18 will cause the ears 42 to ride down the cam grooves 40 until the ears snap past the detents 48 and enter the extreme lower ends of the grooves 40. With the bristle plate 34 thus fully retracted, the bristles 12 are withdrawn completely within the housing 14, as shown in Fig. 5. However, the upper ends of the bristles 12 remain positioned in the openings 36 so that the bristle plate 34 will rotate with the upper half shell 16 when the half shells are again rotated to extend the bristles. It will be understood that the apertured top wall 20 of the casing 14 is effective to strip or clean any hair or other debris off the bristles 12 when the bristles are retracted into the casing.

It will be apparent that the brush is highly serviceable, yet is conveniently retractable. The brush is extremely compact and easy to carry when retracted. Thus, the brush has been made satisfactorily inthe actual size shown in the drawings. When retracted, this brush is comparable in size and appearance to a co-smetic compact. Inasmuch as the brush has only three parts, all of which may be molded from plastic materials, the brush may be made at extremely low cost.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A retractable brush, comprising a generally drum shaped casing having upper and lower generally cup shaped half shells rotatable relative to each other, said upper half shell having a substantially flat generally circular top wall with a multitude of apertures formed therein, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said upper half shell into said lower half shell, each of said legs having an outwardly facing groove therein, said lower half shell having an inwardly projecting ridge engaglng said groove in each of said legs for disengageably retaining said half shells together while providing for relative rotation thereof, a generally disc shaped carrier movable upwardly and downwardly within said casing, said carrier having a multitude of individual bristles formed integrally therewith and extending upwardly therefrom through said apertures in said upper half shell, said lower half shell having a plurality of arcuate members extending upwardly into said upper half shell and formed with respective inclined cam grooves, and a plurality of ears projecting outwardly on said carrier and; received in said respective cam grooves for moving said carrier upwardly and downwardly in response to relative rotation of said half shells, said bristles thereby being extensible and retractable through said apertures, said top wall being effective to strip any hair and other debris off said bristles when said bristles are retracted through said apertures, the engagement of said bristles with said apertures being effective to connect said carrier to said upper half shell for rotation therewith, each of said cam grooves having a substantially horizontal locking portion at its upper end for locking said carrier with said bristles extended, each of said cam grooves having a detent element projecting into said groove adjacent the lower end thereof for detaining the corresponding ear with the bristles retracted.

2. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having hollow generally cup shaped upper and lower members interconnected for relative rotation, said upper member having a top wall with a plurality of openings herein, a bristle carrier plate movably received in said housing and having a plurality of bristles mounted on said plate and extending upwardly therefrom through said openings, the engagement between said bristles and said openings -being effective to connect said plate to said upper member for rotation therewith, means on said lower member defining a plurality of angularly spaced inclined cams thereon, and a plurality of cam follower elements on said carrier plate and engaged with said cams for moving said plate upwardly and downwardly and thereby extending and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of said members, said cams having substantially horizontal upper portions for locking said carrier plate with said bristles extended.

3. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a generally drum shaped housing having a pair of Yopposed generally cup shaped members, means retaining said members in opposed relation while providing for limited relative axial ro-tation therebetween, one of said members having an end wall with a plurality of openings therein, a plate-like carrier having a plurality of bristles mounted on one side thereof and extending through said openings to connect said plate to said one housing member for rotation therewith, the other of said housing members having means dening a plurality of inclined cam grooves opposite the edge of said carrier, and a plurality of cam follower elements projecting outwardly from the edge of said carrier into said cam grooves for extending and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of said housing members, each of said cam grooves having a. substantially level'locking portion at its upper end for locking said carrier w1th said bristles extended, each of said groves having a detent element extending into said groove for detainmg said cam follower elements with said bristles retracted.

4. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having hollow upper and lower members interconnected for relative rotation, said upper-member having a top wall with a plurality of openings therein, a bristle carrier plate movably received in said housing and having a plurality of bristles mounted on said plate and extending upwardly therefrom through said openings, the engagement between said bristles and said openings being effective to connect said plate to said upper member for rotation therewith, means on said lower member defining a plurality of angularly spaced inclined cams thereon, and a plurality of cam follower elements on said carrier plate and engaged with said cams for moving said plate'upwardly and downwardly and thereby extending and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of said members, said top wall being effective to.clean any hair and other debris off said bristles when said bristles are retracted into said housing through said openings.

5. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having rst and second opposed members,

means retaining said members in opposed relation while providing for limited relative axial rotation therebetween, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of openings therein, a plate-like carrier having a plurality of bristles mounted on one side thereof and extendmg through said openings to connect said plate to said rst housing member for rotation therewith, said second housing member having means defining a plurality of inclined cam grooves o-pposite the edge of said carrier, and a plurality of cam follower elements projecting outwardly from the edge of said carrier into said cam grooves for extending and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of saidV housing members, each of said cam grooves having a substantially level locking portion at its upper end for locking said carrier with said bristles extended.

6. ln a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second opposed members, means retaining said members in opposed relation while providing for limited relative axial rotation therebetween, said first member having an end wall with a plurality of openings therein, a plate-like carrier having a plurality of bristles mounted on one side thereof and extending through said openings to connect said plate to said first housing member for rotation therewith, said second housing member having means defining a plurality of inclined cam grooves opposite the edge of said carrier, and a plurality of cam follower elements projecting outwardly from the edge of said carrier into said cam grooves for extending and retracting said bristles in response to relative rotation of said housing members.

7. A retractable brush, comprising a generally drum shaped casing having upper and lower generally cup shaped half shells rotatable relative to each other, said upper half shell having a substantially at generally circular top wall with a multitude of apertures formed therein, means for disengageably retaining said half shells together while providing for relative rotation thereof, a generally disc shaped carrier movable upwardly and downwardly within said casing, said carrier having a multitude of bristles formed integrally therewith and extending upwardly therefrom through said apertures in said upper half shell, said lower half shell having a plurality of arcuate members extending upwardly into said upper half shell and formed with respective inclined cam grooves, and a plurality of ears projecting outwardly on said carrier and received in said respective cam grooves for moving said carrier upwardly and downwardly in response to relative rotation of said half shells, said bristles thereby being extensible and retractable through said apertures, theengagement of said bristles with said apertures being effective to connect said carrier to said upper half shell for rotation therewith, each of said cam grooves having a substantially horizontal locking portion at its upper end for locking said carrier with said bristles extended.

8. In a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second opposed members interconnected tor relative rotation, said first member having a plurality of openings therein, a carrier member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon, said bristles being movable through said openings to connect said carrier member to said rst housing member for rotation therewith, and a plurality of cam means interconnecting said members for moving said carrier member axially and thereby projecting and retracting said bristles through said openings in response to relative rotation of said housing members.

9. in a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second opposed members interconnected for relative rotation, said first member having a plurality of openings therein, a carrier member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon, said bristles being movable through said openings to connect said carri-er member to said first housing member for rotation therewith, and a plurality of cam means interconnecting said members for moving said carrier member axially and thereby projecting and retracting said bristles through said openings in response to relative rotation of said housing members, said cam means including locking means for locking said carrier member and said bristles in projected position.

10. ln a retractable brush, the combination comprising a housing having first and second opposed members interconnected for relative rotation, said iirst member having a plurality of openings therein, a carrier member having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon, said bristles being movable through said openings to connect said carrier member to said first housing member for rotation there with, and a plurality of cam means interconnecting said members for moving said carrier member axially thereby projecting and retracting said bristles through said openings in response to relative rotation of said housing members, said cam means including locking means for locking said carrier memberand said bristles in retracted position.

11. In a retractable brush, the combination compris? vsaid members for moving said carrier member axially and thereby projecting and retracting said bristles through said openings in response to relative rotation of said housing members, said cam means including first and second locking means for locking said carrier and said bristles in projected and retracted positions respectively.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,298,620 Harris Oct. 13, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 400,051 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1933 506,428

Great Britain May 23, 1939 

